BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — The parents of a man killed in a Mississippi River boating crash filed the first of what could be several civil lawsuits against the boat operators.

The Burlington Hawk Eye reported (http://bit.ly/1fOgQw1 ) Friday that Des Moines attorney Alfredo Parrish filed a lawsuit on behalf of Lee and Tammy Eakins. They’re the parents of Blake Eakins, who was among four people killed in the late-night crash of two boats last year.

The couple filed a lawsuit in Des Moines County District Court against the boat operators, Douglas Metcalf and Joseph Schier Jr., both 22. The suit claims the men acted negligently in operating their boats without lights.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources blamed the lack of lights for the crash. After charging both men, prosecutors later dropped the charges.